Terry Gips

About Terry Gips

Terry Gips is a sustainability leader, consultant, agricultural economist, ecologist, Natural Step Framework Instructor, speaker and author with more than 50 years experience in global environmental leadership, policy, sustainable development, business and non-profit management. He volunteers full-time as the President and Co-founder of the Alliance for Sustainability a non-profit he co-founded in 1983.He is CEO of Sustainability Associates, which works with business, government, congregations, healthcare, schools and nonprofits to save money, improve performance and become sustainability leaders through leading edge sustainability thinking, Natural Step training, technical consulting, public policy, strategic marketing, and capital formation.Previously, he worked as White House aide, Congressional assistant to US Reps. Abner Mikva (IL) and John Krebs (CA), Aveda Corporation Director of Ecological Affairs and Sustainability, Cargill economist and grain merchant, Adjunct Faculty at the Minneapolis College of Art & Design, Wall Street brokerage assistant with Neuberger Berman, co-founder of the Sacramento Community Garden Program of the University of California Cooperative Extension, and co-founder and President of the International Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture, where he wrote the widely-acclaimed Breaking the Pesticide Habit, co-authored The Humane Consumer and Producer Guide, served as technical editor of Reviving the Land, edited Manna, and wrote numerous articles based on his work in more than 45 countries. In addition to serving on numerous Boards, he has served as a University of Minnesota Center for Spirituality and Healing Collaborator, Vice-Chair of Congregations Caring for Creation and Chair of the City of St. Louis Park Environment and Sustainability Commission. He graduated from Claremont McKenna College and completed his M.S. in Agricultural and Applied Economics at the University of California, Davis and a Masters in Public and Private Management from the Yale School of Organization and Management.Specialties: Work with private, public and nonprofit sectors to save money, improve performance, become environmentally and socially responsible & have more fun thru cutting-edge sustainability thinking, design, visioning, coaching & assessments, Natural Step Framework and Personal Sustainability training, keynotes, organizational and policy development, marketing & capital formation.

Experience

1. President and Co-founder

   Alliance For Sustainability

   Jan 1994 — Present · Minneapolis, MN, US

   Terry Gips co-founded the Alliance for Sustainability (originally the International Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture) in 1983 with leaders he met doing research in 45 countries globally on whether it was possible to feed everyone on the planet without destroying it in the process. He became the first Executive Director, working to pass legislation establishing the nation\'s toughest organic standards, banning hazardous pesticides, protecting groundwater, creating a state loan and grant program for organic farmers and establish a Chair in Sustainable Agriculture at the University of Minnesota. He also worked to edit the monthly newsletter Manna and New Directions in Agriculture, author Breaking the Pesticide Habit, co-author the Humane Consumer and Producer guide with the HSUS. He served as the North American Board member of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements and Board member of the Pesticide Action Network of North America, National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides (now Beyond Pesticides), and Ski to End Hunger. He was a founding Board member of the CERES Coalition for corporate environmental responsibility and delegate to the 1992 UN Earth Summit in Rio where he helped lead efforts with 100 NGOs to have all 179 countries adopt sustainable agriculture as a goal. Following that historic victory, he finished as Executive Director and became President of the newly-named Alliance for Sustainability Since 2020 has has volunteered full-time as the President of the Alliance where he helps oversee all aspects of the Alliance\'s work, including: editing its e-Newsletter and four social media platforms, conducting public speaking, trainings and consulting, building partnerships, developing the Board, and assisting with the three programs: Policy, Business and Akepa Youth & Schools. He lead efforts with the Akepa e-Book, slide presentation and website, Business presentation, Pledge and Declaration of Co-Creation and Interdependence.

Education

• Highland Park High School

  High School Diploma

  1965 — 1969

• Claremont McKenna College

  BA, Public Affairs

  1969 — 1973

• Natural Step Instructors Program

  Instructor, Sustainability

  1996 — 1996

• University of California, Davis

  MS, Agricultural and Applied Economics

  1974 — 1976

• Yale School of Management

  MBA, Public and Private Management

  1978 — 1980

Skills

• Public Policy
• Sustainable Business
• Cleantech
• Environmental Education
• Sustainable Agriculture
• Public Speaking
• Environmental Awareness
• Alternative Energy
• Environmental Impact Assessment
• Green Technology
• Carbon
• Recycling
• Fundraising
• Marketing Strategy
• Environmental Management Systems
• Renewable Energy
• Strategy
• Sustainable Design
• Agriculture
• Energy Efficiency
• Policy
• Ecology
• Coaching
• Green Building
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• Training
• Sustainable Energy
• Sustainability Consulting
• Non-Profits
• Program Development
• Energy
• Sustainable Development
• Government
• Nonprofits
• Life Cycle Assessment
• Green
• Social Entrepreneurship
• Marketing
• Editing
• Climate Change